# Anyone else seen The Hag (Sleep Paralysis)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750 "2013-04-15T05:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/41 "2013-04-16T06:11:21Z")
Only once and I didn’t see the Hag. Ever woke up with that feeling that someone’s in your bedroom? I Did, and froze. Paralyzed for about 5 seconds until I got a grip on myself and was able to move. Because on this occasion, there actually WAS someone in my room.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/42 "2013-04-16T06:44:27Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > I’ve never had sleep paralysis per se. Some people get the “running through quicksand” dream because their legs are shut down during sleep; but in my case it’s just I dream I’m trying to run and saying “why the Hell don’t my legs work right?” > > I did have some problems with [The Invisible Scary Skeletons](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=291312) a couple of times but not recently. By the way, [night terrors](http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/sleep/terrors.html) are usually restricted to small children. They are similar to dreams, not just a frightening dream. The child doesn’t awaken easily. They can go on for an hour or more. My son had them when his dad was away and we were staying with relatives. He would scream and struggle and never open his eyes. It happened every night we were there. After the second night I took him to the doctor, who explained what they were. He couldn’t, however, explain why. Once his dad came home, he was fine, never happened again. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/43 "2013-04-16T07:14:35Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > It’s interesting how people of a certain culture tend to share the experience based on their cultural expectations. I think our modern day version is probably alien abduction - I think a lot of the people who claim it had some sort of sleep paralysis experience that seemed very real to them and it stuck with them. I’ve heard that used as an example of a sort of “standard template hallucination” that seems to pop up in every culture, just with the “props” changed. For example, the “aliens” change according to what the popular image is of aliens in the country of the victim. In older times, you had similar experiences - paralysis, floating, abduction, etc - but you’d have angels and clouds or genies and flying carpets instead of aliens and flying saucers. ---
**Author:** ![Virgil\_Tibbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@Virgil\_Tibbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Virgil_Tibbs)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/44 "2013-04-16T10:37:05Z")
Maupassant wrote a frightening short story, apparently based on sleep paralysis, called _[The Horla](http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/Horl.shtml)_. ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/45 "2013-04-16T11:55:58Z")
I had one or two episodes of sleep paralysis. I didn’t have any hallucinations while they were occurring. I did have an intense feeling - it’s hard to explain - of being ‘small’ and that really irritated me. I felt physically small and also I couldn’t make any noises louder than my own breathing. It was very uncomfortable but it didn’t last long. I had to have been around 14 at the time. ---
**Author:** ![randomface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@randomface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randomface)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/46 "2013-04-16T13:30:38Z")
The last bad batch of sleep paralysis I had occurred in a local park at about 10:30 at night. I went for a run, stopped and laid down on a small platform to look at the especially bright stars, then slowly drifted into sleep paralysis. My first clue that something was off was that out of my peripheral vision I kept seeing a man in a white tracksuit run by. This trail has about a mile loop in it so he would have had to have been impossibly fast to run around and then slowly run by. Then, a form came out of the woods. It was carrying a staff with what appeared to be a crudely made and rusted blade on it. When it got closer, I realized it was wearing a robe made out of some fuzzy material. It came closer and closer until it was standing right beside me, looking like the Grim Reaper for Sasquatches. It stood there for what seemed like forever, then slowly drifted back into the forest. I finally was able to move again shortly, and that was the last time I’ve been out to that park at night. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_I\_Am](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sam\_I\_Am](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_I_Am)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/47 "2013-04-16T18:30:52Z")
I have had it happen several times. I found it particularly traumatic, being a survivor of childhood sexual abuse (which happened at night). After being freaked out one too many times, I trained myself to not sleep on my back, and I haven’t had a recurrence since. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/48 "2013-04-16T21:36:58Z")
Night Terror Dreamed I was trapped in a mall, which was being used as a prison. I escaped, but the parking lot was fenced in and even had a fence roof so I couldn’t get out. Got though one section only to find more fencing beyond. Got farther and farther until I met the Spider Demon. Woke up sitting up, in mid scream, drenched in sweat. Thing was, I didn’t sit up on waking, I was already sitting up when I awoke, the scream already happening. Bed was thoroughly ‘wring water out of the sheets and pillow’ soaked. Never Hag or real sleep paralysis, but in the same time period… Woke up. Realized that I couldn’t see anything. Then realized I couldn’t feel anything. I could not move. Finally realized my eyes were closed, but could not open them. While I’m trying to figure all this out, it dawned on me that I was not breathing, and hadn’t been in some time. I tried hard to move. I could not. I couldn’t open my eyes. Realizing that if I didn’t breath, I was going to die, I summoned every ounce of my strength and took a breath. My entire body exploded into pins and needles. My brain swooned. But I could move, I could open my eyes, I could breath. Now that was as terrifying as the Spider Demon. No such issues since. I don’t have the stresses or mental health issues I had back then, and I use a sleep aid (trazedone) now. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/49 "2013-04-17T00:47:04Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Night Terror > > Dreamed I was trapped in a mall, which was being used as a prison. I escaped, but the parking lot was fenced in and even had a fence roof so I couldn’t get out. Got though one section only to find more fencing beyond. Got farther and farther until I met the Spider Demon. > > Woke up sitting up, in mid scream, drenched in sweat. Thing was, I didn’t sit up on waking, I was already sitting up when I awoke, the scream already happening. Bed was thoroughly ‘wring water out of the sheets and pillow’ soaked. > Never Hag or real sleep paralysis, but in the same time period… > > Woke up. Realized that I couldn’t see anything. Then realized I couldn’t feel anything. I could not move. Finally realized my eyes were closed, but could not open them. While I’m trying to figure all this out, it dawned on me that I was not breathing, and hadn’t been in some time. I tried hard to move. I could not. I couldn’t open my eyes. Realizing that if I didn’t breath, I was going to die, I summoned every ounce of my strength and took a breath. My entire body exploded into pins and needles. My brain swooned. But I could move, I could open my eyes, I could breath. > > Now that was as terrifying as the Spider Demon. > > No such issues since. I don’t have the stresses or mental health issues I had back then, and I use a sleep aid (trazedone) now. Didya read the link? Night terrors happen to children and are not remembered. You had a bad nightmare. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/50 "2013-04-17T05:29:38Z")
Once, when I was in grade school I woke up and could not move or feel my legs. My brother thought I was faking and stuck a needle in me and got no reaction. When to the hospital, was checked out, eventually around noon I started to get feeling back. Was totally fine by late afternoon. Doctor just shrugged and said I must have slept funny. It has never happened again. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/51 "2013-04-17T14:50:18Z")
I’ve had a handful of sleep paralysis episodes, but they’re triggered by sleeping with my face in the pillow rather than on my back. Usually having trouble breathing is incorporated into whatever dream I’m having, then I’ll wake up and be unable to turn over onto my back for a few moments. Then I’ll be able to roll over with great difficulty and I’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/52 "2013-04-17T17:21:35Z")
I have never had a sleep paralysis episode and hope I never do after reading this thread. I’d probably have a heart attack if I were paralyzed and thought I saw a “hag” or similar threatening entity coming toward me. I’ve had the feeling of falling right before falling asleep and then jerking fully awake - annoying but not scary. Once as a preteen I had a dream that a panther was about to jump at me and I was completely stuck in place, unable to even attempt to run. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/53 "2013-04-17T19:36:37Z")
Never saw the hag, but I’ve had sleep paralysis a number of times. It’s generally a sensation that someone else is in the room, and they crawl on top of me. Absolute sheer fucking terror. Thankfully, I’ve had it a couple of times, and the last time it happened after I tried to scream and couldn’t, part of my mind went, “Oh, this is sleep paralysis. None of this is real,” and I snapped out of it. That being said, I don’t ever want to experience it again. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/54 "2013-04-17T20:40:01Z")
I’ve had it happen twice in my early 20s. The first time there was no malevolent creature, just the terror of not being able to breathe or move. The second time there was a thing about the size of a baby lying next to me, wrapped in black swaddling but with a featureless face. It saw me see it and rolled off the bed. I could feel it move the mattress. So scary even though I knew it wasn’t real. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/55 "2013-04-19T13:51:36Z")
I’ve never had sleep paralysis, but I am familiar with feeling like you can’t breathe when you wake up. For a while I had uncontrolled silent reflux, and that would very occasionally cause laryngial spasms. When this happens, your larynx is trapped in an up position and you feel like you can’t breathe in, only out. Fortunately, they usually last less than a minute. If you can force yourself to relax, the whole thing is over before you know it. My dad on the other hand has sleep paralysis due to his narcolepsy. It’s just an everyday occurrence to him now. He’s never talked about a hag, though. When he gets back from his camping trip, I’ll ask him about her. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/56 "2013-04-29T02:46:26Z")
Normally I don’t get freaked out, but something new happened to me today. I woke up, unable to move, which isn’t that unusual. But then I did move, I started scratching my hip. Except I didn’t move it, my arm did it on its own! That was freaky. I can only guess that I was doing what people do unconsciously in their sleep, except that my conscious mind was awake so it seemed like someone else was controlling my arm. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/57 "2013-05-01T00:54:45Z")
I’ve had the version with something malevolent on the edge of my peripheral vision, sounds like doors opening and people speaking in low mutterings, and the pressure thing where something’s jumped on top of you and keeps slamming you down (yeah, struck my teenage mind as demon rape scenario); usually happens if I’m trying to nap on my back (so I try very hard not to do that any more). Hate it. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/58 "2013-05-01T02:42:09Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Normally I don’t get freaked out, but something new happened to me today. I woke up, unable to move, which isn’t that unusual. But then I did move, I started scratching my hip. Except I didn’t move it, my arm did it on its own! That was freaky. Too funny - and you’ve reminded me of this weird afternoon when I was a teen - I fell asleep with my legs tucked under me. I woke up and one of my legs wasn’t mine. I mean - I KNEW it had to be mine, but it was totally “asleep” no pins and needles or anything - just floppy and dead. My brain didn’t acknowledge it as mine, and I kept being distracted by trying to find the rest of my cousin (who’s leg I was convinced it was) I spent a good 4 or 5 minutes poking at it and realizing it was mine, manipulating it around (legs are HEAVY), and then forgetting it (which was weird) and trying to figure out who’s leg it was, before the pins and needles and heavy sandbag feeling came back, and then Oh God OwOwOwie! So weird tho - the whole time it was asleep, my brain was convinced that it was someone else’s leg. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/59 "2013-05-01T04:28:24Z")
From what I understand, sleep paralysis only stops voluntary movement. Involuntary movement can still take place, so your body can actually do things reflexively and thereby freak you the hell out. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750/60 "2013-05-01T04:37:33Z")
I’ve never had sleep paralysis, and now I hope I never do! Jesus Christ that sounds horribly freaky! However, > [@Lasciel](#): > > What I really hate is the falling-asleep “crash” when all of my muscles and nerves are loosening up as I fall asleep, and then my brain goes “OMG I’M FALLING” and I feel like I just crashed back into the bed as my muscles spasm up again. That sucks, because it gets my heartbeat going so fast that it takes forever to relax down to sleep again, and it’s usually really late at night because I was soooo close to being asleep before it happened. Yes! This!! Is there a name for whatever \*that \*is? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-seen-the-hag-sleep-paralysis/655750.md?page=4)